Farm Grants For Veterans – Some of you might be familiar with USDA grants for veterans. These grants are designed specifically for the veterans’ transition process to farming, ranching, and other agricultural jobs.
This program was created by The Office of Advocacy and Outreach or OAO. This office is working with many states and organizations to run the program. You might see there is no federal program which is available to help veteran farmers and ranchers. However, financial and resource management training programs at USDA are quite helpful for farmers to establish and maintain successful framing or ranching business.
Farm grants for veterans are designed to introduce or reintroduce the agricultural jobs to veterans. USDA encourages the veteran to join in total community and economic development. Veterans who return to the United States from active duty might face many problems.
Who is a Veteran Farmer?
The USDA has defined the meaning of a veteran farmer or a rancher through the USDA programs. To be eligible, you must serve in the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.
Besides, you must be a veteran with your experience for at lest 10 years. Or, you can meet some requirements to become a beginning farmer.
USDA Farm Grants for Veterans
According to The Department of Labor, there is more than 20 percent of your veterans who are reported as unemployed. Moreover, the data recently presented that 45 percent of armed service members come from rural America. The government considers that the agricultural industry can be the best logical solution to support the economy of the veterans.
USDA has the mission to assist the veterans to start or continue farming and ranching operations to strengthen the American economy. It also provides the livelihoods to the returning veterans.
USDA also works to strengthen the service delivery to members of military who are living in rural America or who are interested in farming or ranching. The USDA for veterans, Reservists, and Military Families Task Force have been working together to create the programs to help communities establish job training programs and other efforts to help returning military. One of those programs is farm grants for veterans. Here are some USDA grants to try for veterans:
EQIP
EQIP is the largest cost-share program from the federal to help farmers and ranchers. Through this program, the federal will provide some incentives for the eligible farmers or ranchers to start conservation practices on their land. It can be cover cropping, or rotational grazing. EQIP uses per practice payment rate for over three years.
It is important to note that there are some EQIP have specific deadline in the U.S. But, you can apply any time of year. By securing a space in the EQIP program, you can maximize your turn by filing your taxes.
SARE
SARE Farmer Rancher Grants are available to support individual farms and ranches, doing on-farm research and outreach with the purpose of sustainable agriculture practices. This narrative-based program makes you to submit project reports in the middle and at the end of your grant.
Value Added Producer Grants
The VAPG grant funds projects to support producers pay the cost of marketing, rental, and personnel expenses that are important to grow and expand production on your farm. The Value-added production such as local food production, alter the raw commodity by producing items like jams and jellies. If you want to improve your agribusiness business, or you want to sell your items at a farmers’ market, this program can be your right choice.
U.S. Small Business Administration VBOC Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps veteran ranchers or farmers by providing Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program. This program supports services to improve business skills in service members, veterans and their families. It works for the eligible veterans who are just beginning reentry or a military spouse. Some of those services are:
- Business training and counseling
- Resource partner referrals
- Transition assistance
- Business plan workshops
- Mentoring and more.
Starting produce or raising livestock is a big thing. Growing a business is a new level, and developing the business skills important to start an agricultural operation is crucial to your success. To take benefit of this program, you can reach one of the 22 VBOC office.
Non-Profit Funding and Technical Support Options for Veteran Farmers
Farm grants for veteran provided by USDA and other government organizations are not the only solutions available for veteran ranchers and farmers. Of course, there are many other funders out available, beyond the USDA that can support you.
Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots
In getting farm grants for veterans, you can also come to Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots. The program is created by deans at the University Nebraska’s College of Technical Agriculture.
It has the mission to help the returning veterans to join agricultural industry. When it is operating completely, the program will provide agricultural class, job training, and placement at various local ranches and farms.
Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training
You can also consider getting agricultural grants for veterans from Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training. The program provides the service for veterans in San Diego. Getting the grants allows you to get training and agricultural job skills so the veterans are able to start their farms or ranches.
It is possible for them to apply for other jobs in agricultural sectors. These farm grants for veterans do not always come in financial support but it helps you to build the skills which you can use to work or start your ranch.
Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
One program is the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. Through the program, veterans can get more than $5,000 to pay vendors or contractors to grow their farm business.
Farmer-Veteran Coalition
In finding the farm grants for veterans, you are recommended to join Farmer-Veteran Coalition. The organization has the mission to help returning veterans to find employment and training on farms and ranches and in other agriculture-related careers.
When the coalition keeps growing, it will grow the availability and access to farm education and acquisition programs for many veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Farmer-Veteran Coalition has the mission to invite the veterans to feed America. They encourage the new generation of farmers and food leaders. They believe that veterans have the unique skills and character to strengthen the rural communities. The organization provides the service for military veterans, their families, employers, and mentors to support the returning veterans.
- Images: veteransfarm.org, serenityvalleyfarm.blogspot.com, civileats.com
- (https://www.farmraise.com/blog/unlock-federal-grant-funding-for-your-farm)
- (https://www.farmraise.com/blog/3-funding-tips-for-veteran-farmers)
